Non Differentiable Functions

Questions with answers on the differentiability of functions with emphasis on piecewise functions.

Graphical Meaning of non differentiability.

Which Functions are non Differentiable?

Let f be a function whose graph is G. From the definition, the value of the derivative of a function f at a
certain value of x is equal to the slope of the tangent to the graph G. We can say that f is not differentiable for any value of x where a tangent cannot 'exist' or the tangent exists but is vertical (vertical line has undefined slope, hence undefined derivative).

Below are graphs of functions that are not differntiable at x = 0 for various reasons.

Function f below is not differentiable at x = 0 because there is no tangent to the graph at x = 0.(try to draw a tangent at x=0!)

Function g below is not differentiable at x = 0 because there is no tangent to the graph at x = 0.(try to draw a tangent at x=0!)

Function h below is not differentiable at x = 0 because there is a jump in the value of the function and also the function is not defined therefore not continuous at x = 0.

Function j below is not differentiable at x = 0 because it increases indefinitely (no limit) on each sides of x = 0 and also from its formula is undefined at x = 0 and therefore non continuous at x=0 .

Function k below is not differentiable because the tangent at x = 0 is vertical and therefore its slope which the value of the derivative at x =0 is undefined.

Theorem: If a function f is differentiable at x = a, then it is continuous at x = a

Contrapositive of the above theorem: If function f is not continuous at x = a, then it is not differentiable at x = a.

Common mistakes to avoid: If f is continuous at x = a, then f is differentiable at x = a.

NOTE: Although functions f, g and k (whose graphs are shown above) are continuous everywhere, they are not diffenrentiable at x = 0.

Solution to Example 1
One way to answer the above question, is to calculate the derivative at x = 0. We start by finding the limit of the difference quotient. Since function f is defined using different formulas, we need to find the derivative at x = 0 using the left and the right limits.